Multipurpose cooking stove container

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

p-0002This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 61/347,512, filed on May 24, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

p-00031. Field of the Invention

p-0004This invention relates generally to containers, uses of containers, and methods of fabrication and use of containers.

p-00052. Background

p-0006The first step many people take before cooking on a grill is to clean the cooking surface. It is inconvenient to carry the cleaning supplies and paper towels out to the grill and then there is little area to place them after you are finished cleaning. In addition, paper towels are typically necessary throughout the cooking process and can be difficult to manipulate when not retained by a support. Furthermore, often a person will come into contact with raw meat during the grilling process, and may need or want to sanitize their hands before touching plates, utensils, the handle of the grill and the like. Again, people may find it burdensome to have to go inside each time it is necessary to wash or sanitize their hands. Many barbeque grills do not have a storage container and some that do, do not necessarily have water resistant containers. There exists a need for a container that can be mounted to a grill that is capable of storing cleaning supplies paper towels and the like. In addition, there exists a need for this container to be water resistant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

p-0007The invention is directed to a multipurpose cooking stove container that can store items that may be useful during grilling, including but not limited to, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, paper towels, cooking accessories such as spices, or utensils, and the like. In one embodiment, the cooking stove container is connected with a grill tray or side shelf and in an alternative embodiment, the cooking stove container is part of a grill. In another embodiment, the cooking stove container may comprise a mounting device that allows the cooking stove container to be detachably attached to the grill.

p-0008The multipurpose cooking stove container comprises a back member and a front member that are configured to create a cavity wherein items may be stored. In some embodiments, the back member and front member are configured such that at least one member can be opened to provide access to the cavity. For example in one embodiment, the back and front member are connected at a pivot point, whereby at least one member can pivot about the pivot to allow access to the cavity. In another embodiment, a moveable connection, hinge or seam may allow a portion of one of the members to be opened, thereby allowing access to the cavity.

p-0009The multipurpose cooking stove container may further comprise a tray for convenient storage of items. The tray may be further configured to accept a cup or cups that may seat into or on the tray and in some cases may be slid along the tray for adjustable storage configurations. The cup may allow for more convenient storage and accessibility to smaller or shorter items. In addition, the cooking stove container may be configured with an opening that allows access to the cavity without opening the cavity completely. For example, an opening may be on a side panel and may provide access to hand sanitizer. In another embodiment, a cover may be positioned over the cavity opening and may be slid or moved out of the way to provide access to the cavity opening.

p-0010The cooking stove container may be configured in such a way to protect the contents within the container cavity from environmental elements such as rain, wind, dirt, pollen and the like. The top of the back member may extend over the front member when in the closed position, thereby protecting the cavity from the elements. In addition, a portion of the front member may nest within the back member.

p-0011The cooking stove container may comprise a towel roll support and may also have a towel opening whereby the towels can be accessed without opening the container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

p-0012The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention; and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

p-0013<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows an isometric exploded view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container.

p-0014<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container in an open orientation mounted on a grill side shelf.

p-0015<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container in an open orientation located under a grill side shelf.

p-0016<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container in a closed orientation.

p-0017<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container in an open orientation.

p-0018<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> shows a side view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container in a closed orientation.

p-0019<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> shows an isometric exploded view of a mounting device according to an example embodiment of the invention.

p-0020<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> shows an isometric exploded view of a mounting device with a hook according to an example embodiment of the invention.

p-0021<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> shows a side view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container having a mounting device.

p-0022<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 10</figref> shows a side view of an embodiment of a hook shaped mounting device

p-0023<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of cooking stove container having a portion of a member in an open orientation.

p-0024<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> shows a side cut away view of an embodiment of the cooking stove container having items stored therein.

p-0025<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref> shows a front cut away view of an embodiment of the cooking stove container having items stored therein.

p-0026<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> shows a side cut away view of an embodiment of the cooking stove container having items stored therein.

p-0027<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> shows an isometric view of an embodiment of a cooking stove container.

p-0028Reference numbers are used to indicate similar or like items throughout the figures.

DEFINITIONS

p-0029Cooking stove as used herein means a barbeque grill, a rotisserie, a spit, or any outdoor cooking apparatus where the multipurpose cooking stove container of the present invention can be mounted thereto.

p-0030Stove is defined as a portable or fixed apparatus that burns fuel or uses electricity to provide heat for cooking or heating.

p-0031Boss as used herein is defined as a protuberant part of body.

p-0032Cavity as used herein is defined as an unfilled space within a mass, especially a hollowed-out space.

p-0033Recess as used herein is defined as an indentation or cleft.

p-0034Opening as used herein is defined as something that is open, such as a breach or aperture, or an open width, or span.

p-0035Latch as used herein is defined as any various devices in which mating mechanical parts engage to fasten but usually not to lock something.

p-0036Connected with as used herein means joined or linked together either directly or through another device or assembly.

p-0037Connected to as used herein means directly attached or adjacent to.

p-0038Rainproof as used herein in reference to the cooking stove container means that the contents within the cavity of the cooking stove container will not get wet when the cooking stove container is in a closed upright orientation and exposed to a rain shower.

p-0039Rain resistant as used herein in reference to the cooking stove container means that the contents within the cavity of the cooking stove container will be effectively shielded from rain when the cooking stove container is in a closed upright orientation and exposed to a rain shower.

h-0007Example embodiments of the cooking stove container

p-0040<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows an example embodiment of a container according to the present invention. The container may be comprised of a back member <b>40</b>, a front member <b>12</b>, a tray <b>14</b> and a mounting device <b>70</b><b>70</b>′. The back member <b>40</b>, the front member <b>12</b> and the tray <b>14</b> form a cavity <b>24</b> as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The mounting device <b>70</b>, <b>70</b>A shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is connected with the back member <b>40</b> and is adapted for attachment to a cooking stove. The tray <b>14</b> is connected with the front member <b>12</b>. The back and front member may be attached at a pivoting point, <b>27</b> as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The front member <b>12</b> may comprise a boss <b>26</b>, and the back member may comprise and openings <b>52</b>, <b>54</b> configured to fit over the boss <b>26</b>, to create a pivot <b>27</b>, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. Any conventional means to attach the front and back member to provide pivoting motion may be used. The front member <b>12</b> may be configured to open and close with the back member <b>40</b> to allow access to the cavity <b>24</b>. In addition, the front <b>12</b> and back members <b>40</b> may be configured to have an interference <b>32</b> with each other to create a stop when a member is opened a certain amount, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>.

p-0041As shown <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the back member <b>40</b> may be comprised of a back panel <b>46</b>, a left side panel <b>44</b>, a right side panel <b>48</b> and a top panel <b>50</b>. The top panel <b>50</b> of the back member <b>40</b> may extend over the front member <b>12</b> when closed to protect the cavity from environmental elements such as rain, wind, dust, pollen and the like. Furthermore, the front member <b>12</b>, or a portion of the front member may be configured to nest within the back member <b>40</b> as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>.

p-0042The front member may comprise a lip <b>16</b> that may further comprise ridges that create an interference fit with the top panel <b>50</b> of the back member <b>40</b> when in the closed orientation as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>, creating a latch. The lip may also provide a convenient means for griping the front member to opening the cooking stove container.

p-0043The back member may further comprise a towel roll support portion for securing a roll of paper towels <b>94</b> as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The towel roll support portion may be protrusions <b>56</b> such as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, extending from the left side panel <b>44</b> and/or the right side panel <b>48</b>. Any suitable means to secure a roll of paper towels would be suitable for the present invention. The cooking stove container may be configured to hold a standard six inch diameter roll of paper towels. Furthermore, the back member may have ribs on the inside surface to hold the paper towels away from the inside surface in the event of water ingress into the cavity,

p-0044The front member <b>12</b>, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> may have a front left side panel <b>20</b> and a front right side panel <b>22</b> that are adjacent to the left side panel <b>44</b> and the right side panel <b>48</b> of the back member <b>40</b> when in the closed position. The front left side panel <b>20</b> and a front right side panel <b>22</b> can push against or seal against the inside of the back member <b>40</b> when closed to prevent rain water from entering the container. Furthermore, the front member <b>12</b> may have a top lip <b>16</b> that may frictionally engage with the top panel <b>50</b> of the back member <b>40</b> when in the closed position creating a latch and effectively preventing rain from entering.

p-0045The front or back member may comprise a tray for holding items such as cleaning supplies, cooking utensils, spices and the like. As depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> the tray <b>14</b> may be an integral part of the front member <b>12</b>. In another embodiment however, the tray may be detached from the back or front member to provide easier cleaning. The tray may further comprise drainage holes in the bottom to allow the removal of any water. A cup <b>18</b> may be inserted into the tray to provide more secure storage of smaller items, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>. The cup may be used to hold shorter items, such as hand sanitizer. The cup may be slid along the tray to provide variable storage options. In one embodiment, two or more cups may be inserted into the tray. In another embodiment, at least one cup is connected to the tray.

p-0046In addition, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref> the cooking stove container may further comprise a cavity opening <b>28</b> for access to, for example, hand sanitizer. A cavity opening cover <b>29</b> may be configured to seal the cavity opening <b>28</b>, when not in use, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>.

p-0047The cooking stove container may comprise a towel roll support in the front of back member. As depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, paper towels <b>94</b> may be attached to the back member and may be easily accessible when the container is in the open orientation. In another embodiment, the leading edge of the paper towels may fit through a towel opening <b>30</b> in the container to provide access to paper towels <b>94</b> when the container in the closed orientation, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 15</figref>.

p-0048The cooking stove container may be part of a cooking stove, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, or it may connected with a cooking grill by a mounting device <b>70</b>. The mounting device may be any suitable configuration for attachment to a cooking stove or cooking stove side shelf. The mounting device may simply hook to openings in cooking stove side shelf or may comprise a means to bolt through or onto a portion of the cooking stove.

p-0049The cooking stove container <b>10</b> as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> comprises a handle <b>47</b> in the back panel <b>46</b> of the back member <b>40</b>. A handle may also be configured into the front member, to allow easier opening and closing of the cooking stove container. The handle may be a recess as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>, and the recess may be molded or otherwise formed into the member. The handle may also be a protrusion from a member, such as a knob or curved member that is attached to a member or panel.

p-0050The cooking stove container <b>10</b> depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is in the open orientation. The front member <b>12</b> is pivoted away from the back member <b>40</b> about the pivot <b>27</b>. The front member <b>12</b> and back member <b>40</b> have an interference <b>32</b> that limits how far the two members can pivot and open. The front member is more narrow in the embodiment shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, and nests within the back member <b>40</b> when in the closed orientation, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>.

p-0051The cooking stove container <b>10</b> may be configured to be resistant to environment elements as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. A portion of the front member <b>12</b>, such as the side panel <b>20</b>, may be configured to nest within the back member, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. The top panel <b>50</b> of the back member <b>40</b> may be further configured to overhang the front member <b>12</b> to prevent water ingress into the cavity. In addition, the cooking stove container <b>10</b> may comprise holes <b>36</b> in the bottom to allow water to flow out of the cavity, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>. The cooking stove container may be configured to be rainproof, and in an alternative embodiment, the cooking stove container may be configured to be rain resistant as defined herein.

p-0052The mounting device <b>70</b> as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 7 and 8</figref> may comprise a bracket <b>74</b> having a first jaw <b>76</b> and second jaw <b>78</b>, whereby a portion of the cooking stove may be place between the two jaws. A threaded bolt <b>80</b> may be positioned through the threaded opening <b>81</b> in the first jaw <b>76</b>, and be turned to secure the cooking stove portion between the first and second jaw. A stopper <b>82</b> may be attached to the end of the threaded bolt to provide more secure attachment. The bracket <b>74</b> may further comprise a utensil hook <b>83</b> or hooks <b>83</b>′ for hanging cooking utensils and the like. The utensil hooks may be attached to any portion of the cooking stove container. A knob screw <b>72</b> may be used to attach the bracket <b>74</b> to the cooking stove container <b>10</b>. In addition, as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the bracket <b>74</b> or boss <b>140</b> may be configured to provide additional degrees of freedom to the mounting device <b>70</b>, therein allowing the mounting device to be more easily oriented to the cooking stove. The bracket <b>74</b>, and/or the boss <b>140</b> may be configured with teeth, such as radial teeth as shown on the boss <b>140</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, to allow the bracket to be rotated.

p-0053The mounting device may have any dimensions that provide for effective clamping to cooking stoves. For example, the threaded bolt may be adjusted to accept cooking stove portions up to approximately 1.07 inch in dimension. The bracket clamping surface may be crowned to conform to curved attachment portions. The brackets <b>74</b> may be reversed to mount the cooking stove container away from the grill side shelf. The mounting device can be assembled using a Phillips screwdriver and 1.25 inch clearance under the tray. Mounting brackets can be 0.75 inch wide and 13.125 inches apart. Depending on the flexibility of the cooking stove portion attached, the cooking stove container <b>10</b> may be removed from the mounting devices <b>70</b>, <b>70</b>′ by removing two hand-tightened knob screws <b>72</b>. The mounting device may be configured to be attached using any conventional tool and preferable any conventional hand tool including but not limited to a wrench, or screwdriver and the like. In one embodiment, the mounting device may be attached to the grill by hand.

p-0054An alternative mounting device <b>70</b> depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 9</figref> comprises a first mounting portion <b>114</b>, such as a bolt, that may be passed through an opening in the cooking stove <b>118</b>, and secured by a second mounting portion <b>112</b>, such as a nut.

p-0055A very simple mounting device <b>70</b> may comprise a mounting hook <b>84</b>, that may be positioned through an opening <b>118</b> in the side shelf <b>110</b> of the cooking stove. The mounting hook <b>84</b> may also be hooked over a tube or any extension of the cooking stove. The mounting hook may be connected with the container using the bracket configurations as previously described. For example, the hook <b>84</b> could attach to a boss <b>140</b> and be secured with a knob screw <b>72</b>. Any suitable mounting device may be used to mount the cooking stove container to a cooking stove.

p-0056The cooking stove container depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 11</figref> comprises a moveable connection <b>15</b> that enables a portion of the front member <b>12</b> to open. The moveable connection may comprise at least one hinge, or living hinge. In an alternative embodiment, a portion of a member may be configured to slide open.

p-0057<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> depicts a cross sectional side view of a cooking stove container. The cooking stove container <b>10</b> depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref> comprises cleaner <b>90</b>, hand sanitizer <b>92</b>, and paper towels <b>94</b> within the cavity <b>24</b>.

p-0058The cooking stove container may have any suitable dimensions. The depth dimensions of the cavity <b>24</b> are depicted in the tray area as <b>122</b>, and higher in the cavity as <b>120</b> in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 12</figref>. The depth in the tray area <b>122</b>, may be approximately 4.06 inches, and the depth <b>120</b> higher up in the cavity may be 4.89 inches. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>, the cooking stove container <b>10</b> may be 11.13 inches wide <b>134</b>. In addition, the cup <b>18</b> may be 3.16 inches wide <b>130</b> by 5.08 inches high <b>132</b>, as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 13</figref>. The height <b>140</b> of the cooking stove container <b>10</b> as depicted in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 14</figref> may be 18.72 inches, and the height from the base to the paper towel <b>142</b>, may be 11.325 inches. All Dimensions are only non-limiting example dimensions and can be varied according to the actual requirements of the container. For example the dimensions can be plus or minus 10% or plus or minus 30%, or plus or minus 50%. These dimensions are provided in Table 1. Combinations of dimensions provided in Table 1 may be used.

p-0059<tables id="TABLE-US-00001" num="00001"><table frame="none" colsep="0" rowsep="0"><tgroup align="left" colsep="0" rowsep="0" cols="8"><colspec colname="1" colwidth="56pt" align="left" /><colspec colname="2" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="3" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="4" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="5" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="6" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="7" colwidth="28pt" align="center" /><colspec colname="8" colwidth="21pt" align="center" /><thead><row><entry namest="1" nameend="8" rowsep="1">TABLE 1</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="8" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row><row><entry /><entry /><entry>Cup</entry><entry>Cup</entry><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry /><entry>Width</entry><entry>Width </entry><entry>Height</entry><entry>Depth</entry><entry>Depth</entry><entry>Height</entry><entry>Height</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry><entry>Ref. #</entry></row><row><entry /><entry>134</entry><entry>130</entry><entry>132</entry><entry>120</entry><entry>122</entry><entry>140</entry><entry>142</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="8" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></thead><tbody valign="top"><row><entry>Dimensions of</entry><entry>11.13</entry><entry>3.16</entry><entry>5.08</entry><entry>4.89</entry><entry>4.06</entry><entry>18.72</entry><entry>11.33</entry></row><row><entry>container (inch)</entry><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /><entry /></row><row><entry>Dimensions +10%</entry><entry>12.24</entry><entry>3.48</entry><entry>5.59</entry><entry>5.38</entry><entry>4.47</entry><entry>20.60</entry><entry>12.46</entry></row><row><entry>Dimensions +30%</entry><entry>14.47</entry><entry>4.11</entry><entry>6.60</entry><entry>6.36</entry><entry>5.28</entry><entry>24.34</entry><entry>14.72</entry></row><row><entry>Dimensions +50%</entry><entry>16.70</entry><entry>4.74</entry><entry>7.62</entry><entry>7.34</entry><entry>6.09</entry><entry>28.08</entry><entry>16.99</entry></row><row><entry>Dimensions −10%</entry><entry>10.02</entry><entry>2.84</entry><entry>4.57</entry><entry>4.40</entry><entry>3.65</entry><entry>16.85</entry><entry>10.19</entry></row><row><entry>Dimension −30%</entry><entry> 7.79</entry><entry>2.21</entry><entry>3.56</entry><entry>3.42</entry><entry>2.84</entry><entry>13.11</entry><entry> 7.93</entry></row><row><entry>Dimension −50%</entry><entry> 5.57</entry><entry>1.58</entry><entry>2.54</entry><entry>2.45</entry><entry>2.03</entry><entry> 9.36</entry><entry> 5.66</entry></row><row><entry namest="1" nameend="8" align="center" rowsep="1" /></row></tbody></tgroup></table></tables>

p-0060The cooking stove container of the present invention may be made out of any suitable material including but not limited to metal, plastic, composites, or any combination thereof and the like. The cooking stove container may be made out of materials that are weather and in particular water resistant.

p-0061The above and below advantages and features are of representative embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They are presented only to assist in understanding the invention. It should be understood that they are not representative of all the inventions defined by the claims, to be considered limitations on the invention as defined by the claims, or limitations on equivalents to the claims. For instance, some of these advantages may be mutually contradictory, in that they cannot be simultaneously present in a single embodiment. Similarly, some advantages are applicable to one aspect of the invention, and inapplicable to others. Furthermore, certain aspects of the claimed invention have not been discussed herein. However, no inference should be drawn regarding those discussed herein relative to those not discussed herein other than for purposes of space and reducing repetition. Thus, this summary of features and advantages should not be considered dispositive in determining equivalence. Additional features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the following description, from the drawings, and from the claims,

p-0062Unless explicitly stated otherwise, each numerical value and range should be interpreted as being approximate as if the word about or approximately preceded the value of the value or range.

p-0063Given the variety of embodiments of the present invention just described, the above description and illustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention defined by the claims.

p-0064While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures, and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements and procedures.